Panel board



Nov. 27, 1951 F. s. GREEN 2,576,396

PANEL BOARD Filed June 27, 1949 INVENTOR; FLOYD S. GREEN BY6L144176 ATTORNEYS.

FIG. 2.

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 2,576,395 BANEL BOARD "Adam Electric com poration of Missouri Floyd S, Green, St. Louis, Mo., as signor to Frank any, St. Louis, M0,, cor} appli ants tha 1949, Se a Q- 1 1 581 3 Claims. (01. 175-369) Th s ihveh ihh rdetess he ehv q the menu att of e hh r s and the use an ea h?- larly to a mounting means of asseniblifig'various devices in a panelboard. N u

in the manufacture of panels, switchboards, and the like, it is common practice to provide a mountingback of channel section having out-turned margins at the free edges of the flanges. The depression between the flanges ofthe channel provides space for accommodating bus bars, cables, and other conductors, leading. to and from the various devices which, assembled, constitute the panelboard, and provides room for making connections between such devices and the conductors. The several de-- vices constituting the panelboard may include switches, circuit breakers, fuse boxes and instruments, or any other protective, control or indicating apparatus, all herein collectively called panel devices.

An ordinary panelboard may include a great variety of panel devices, and difterent sizes and capacities of each variety, depending upon the circumstances of use for which: the panelboard is intended, 'The various panel devices in a given panelboard nearly always differ radically in dimensions, shape, and disposition of the mounting means thereon, so that, assembly of the same with the mounting back has heretofore involved a great amount of tailoring the mounting back to fit the mounting requirements of the numerous ane de ices t he as hmblt hh- Su ailotihg has eq red the d il n nd n ly he. ap ng. 9f numerals, holes. in he. a i of e m unt hack the po iti n o c h e and fr quently ts. s ze being c ated. b h Precise catiqn in hich. e chnart cular a e d v mu t e mount so that n ll cases e l r vide i the m unt hack f r a cqm hd s cre s or ha ts mus b arran so, as' h pondin m unt n m an n e h n dual ane device, For hes reasons, assembly of panelboards has heretofore been a slow and costly process,

h Q i t f e e t inven ion en r l stated, is to reducethe tedium of assembling nelhoe ds and m ni z the abov m ntione tailoring of the mounting back. i

This invention contemplates, in general, a panelboard or the like wherein the various panel devices are connected with the mounting back through universal fittings, which are quickly at: tachable at any selected position along the mount n ba k ho t nec s i ati t d i l n r h s er in, and wh ch, r vide a suf hi ht panelboards, eqntrol 2v range of connecting positions to accommodate the mounting means of the usual panel devices. Preferably the universal fitting. is arranged to embrace and grip a free edge of themouniting ac n n o ion l g hwi i ha ge; nd with considerable latitude of position transverse: ly. Adjustment in the third dimension is "atame y r i i th fi ti g w t 'al tr'o sets of jaws, so that the appropriate one may be selected for embracing the free edge of the m n 9 9 d pe di up n the e ght at h h t e i to h o n ed t e qhit it preferred form, the invention contemplates that the universal fittin be formed of a strip of sheet metal bent into Li -shape, so'asto provide two' nearly parallel legs: interconnectedby a flat bridge. Each leg of the fitting is providedwith one or more slots, and the slots in the respective legs are aligned witheach'other in a'direction substantially parallel with the flat bridge between the legs; The panel devices are connected with the flat bridge, or mounting portion, of the fitting.

One embodiment of a panelboard and universal fitting, as contemplated by the present invention, is shown in the accompanying drawing in Which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a partially completed panelboard assembly, showing particularly the manner of mounting the several panel devices upon the mounting backf Figure 2 is a perspective View of the universal fitting utilized in mounting the several panel devices upon the mounting back in the panelboard shown in Figure '1; and" Figure 3 isUa development view of the fitting shown in Figure 2, and represents the configura tion of a fiat sheet metal stamping, from which the fitting of Figure 2 is formed.

In common with the practice in the art, the panelboard shown in the drawings comprises a mounting back I upon which is assembled a neutral plate 2, enclosed switches 3 and 4, fuse boxes 5 and 6, and any other desirable panel devices, together with bus bars 1.

The mounting back I is a piece of sheet metal bent into channel section, having flanges H and out-turned margins 12, providin free edges. While in the embodiment shown in the drawings the flanges I? are turned outwardlinit will be understood by those skilled in the art that under some circumstances it may be desirable to turn the margins l2 inwardly. In accordance with the present inventionftheturned margins [2 extend forthe full length of the mounting back I,

and provide throughout that length free edges for the reception of fittings It at any position along said margin, and in such number as may be required for mounting the several panel devices, as well as the decorative and protective front (not shown) of the panelboard.

The fittings I3 may be formed of a sheet metal stamping having, in the flat, a configuration such as shown in Figure 3. By appropriate dies, the stamping may be slotted as shown at H5, I5 and I6, and provided with one or more holes I! and I8 in the same operation at which the stamping is cut from a larger sheet. If desired, the holes I 1 and I8 may be tapped to provide screw threads. Where more than one hole is provided, it is frequently desirable to provide them of difierent sizes, as shown. After the stamping is cut out, it may be bent along lines. l9 and 26 into the U-shape shown in Figure 2, so as to provide legs 2| interconnected by a central fiat bridge 22, which latter embraces the region perforated by holes I! and I8.

The slots I4, I5 and I 6, respectively, in each of legs 2|, are aligned with their counterpart in the other leg, so that the planes of the several slots are substantially parallel with the fiat bridge portion 22 of the fitting. The legs 2| are preferably non-parallel, though nearly so, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

Each of the slots I4, I5 and I6 extends for a substantial depth into the leg 2!, in a direction generally parallel to the lines of fold I9 and 29, but the bight 23 of the several slots is sufficiently remote from the nearest edge of the fitting to leave an uninterrupted web of metal of adequate strength for the purpose. Each of the slots is constricted as shown at 24 between the bight 23 and the mouth of the slot, so that near the mouth thereof the width of the slots is less than near the bight. By so configurating the several slots, and making the width of the slots at the constricted portion 24 a thousandth of an inch or so less than the thickness of the material from which the mounting back I is made, a drive fit may be obtained when the margin I2 of the mounting back is inserted in any one of the several pairs of slots I4, l5 and I6. Since the narrower portion of the slot is at 24, near the mouth thereof, the gripping area between the jaws (i. e., the metal on each side of the slots) and margin l2 does not increase as the degree of penetration of the margin I2 into the slots increases beyond the constricted portion 24. Consequently. whether the fitting is driven up on the margin I2 only to the extent of the depth of the constricted portion 24, or all the way to the bight 23, the gripping forces between the jaws of the fitting and the margin I2 remain substantially constant.

In Figure l of the drawing, a number of different relative positions of the universal fittings I3, with respect to the mounting back I, are shown. The fittings I3, which support the fuse box 6, receive the margin I2 of the mounting back in' the slots I4 thereof, and it will be observed that the margin I2 has penetrated the slots I 4 only about half-way, so that the wider portion of the slot I 4 is unoccupied. The opposite extreme is illustrated by the fitting I 3, which carries a bracket 25 (for attachment of the panelboard front, not shown). In the latter instance, the margins I2 of the mounting back penetrate slots I'B to the full depth thereof. Intermediate positions of penetration are shown in the relation of the parts where the fittings I3. EUPP UZ panel devices 2, 3 and 4. The permissible .difference in extent of penetration of the margin I2 into the respective slots therefore provides for ready adjustment in the transverse direction of the positions of the holes II or I8, in order to fit the corresponding mounting means of the several panel devices, irrespective of the non-uniformity of size of the panel devices.

In assembling the panelboard, the bus bars I are connected to the several panel devices in the usual manner, and finally, the panel devices are secured on the mounting back through the several universal fittings I3. The position of any fitting I3 may be adjusted to fit exactly with the mounting means of the panel device to be thereby received, such adjustment requiring no more tedium than a slight tap with a hammer to drive the fitting further on to margin I2, or to back it ofi slightly. Adjustment of the proper elevation of the mounting portion 22 of the fitting I3, above margin I2, is accomplished by selectingthe appropriate set of slots I4, I5, or I6, into which the margin I2 is to be received.

If, as hereinbefore indicated, the legs 2! of the fitting I3 are nearly parallel but slightly diverging or converging, adding gripping force is achievable, as in the process of application the legs 2| will be moved toward parallel relation, and the resilience of the fitting (tending to move back toward the original non-parallel relation of the legs ZI) applies a gripping force over and above that provided by the relative proportioning of the width of the slots.

In the assembly of panelboards in accordance with the present invention, and utilizing fittings of the character exemplified by fitting I3, it is unnecessary to drill holes in the margin of the mounting back except in extraordinary cases. The gripping force, provided by the engagement of the opposite sides of the several slots with the margin I2, is of sufficient tenacity that, when the several panel devices are secured to the fittings I 3 on the mounting back, and connected with their bus bars, a strong and rugged assembly is provided, despite the absence of direct screw or bolt connections between the several panel devices and the mounting back.

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art should readily understand that the invention accomplishes its object, and provides a universal fitting whereby great economies may be efiectuated in the assembly of panelboards and the like, wherein standard panel devices, varying greatly in dimensions, shape, and location of their mounting means, are embodied.

While one embodiment of the universal fitting has been disclosed in detail, and the application of the same in a typical panelboard assembly has been described, it is apparent that the invention is not limited to the details of construction disclosed, but that numerous variations and adaptations will present themselves to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such are contemplated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A panelboard having a mounting back having a free edge, a U-shaped fitting formed of relatively thin stiff material, each leg of the U having a plurality of slots aligned with corresponding slots in the other leg, said slots having a, with S lQh as to provide a drive fit over said 5 free edge, and a panel device secured to the bridge of said fitting.

2. A panelboard comprising a mounting back having a free edge, a fitting formed of relatively thin stifi material bent to define a leg and a fiat, said leg having a slot extending from one edge of said leg and providing an open mouth thereat, said slot being near its mouth of a width such as to provide a drive fit with said free edge of said mounting back, and being wider near its bight, and a panel device secured to said fiat.

3. A panelboard comprising a mounting back having a free edge, a fitting formed of relatively thin stiff material bent to define a leg and a flat, said leg having a plurality of parallel slots each terminating in an open mouth at one edge of said leg, the distance between said slots being greater than the thickness of said material, and a panel device secured to said fiat.

FLOYD S. GREEN. go

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 853,344 Dennis May 14, 1907 1,345,340 Alphin July 6, 1920 1,843,014 Corino Jan. 26, 1932 2,171,441 Barry Aug. 29, 1939 2,219,887 Bowly Oct. 29, 1940 2,261,857 Novak Nov. 4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 567,023 Germany Dec. 12, 1932 

